Curator of collections Jennifer Taylor says the reading room is well worth a visit.
“It’s a spectacular space architecturally. I think it’s the most beautiful reading room in the country and is one of the very few remaining specialist art libraries publicly accessible in New Zealand.
“The collection is really special with areas of amazing depth and, because of Gordon Brown’s lifetime of collecting, the library holds some exceptional items.
“There are people who regularly visit and read for several hours at a time because there are so many fabulous books.”
The collection has been catalogued and can be browsed on the Koha free online library database, also searchable at the Davis Library, the Alexander Library and online.
Taylor spent two years researching which cataloguing system to use, talking with specialist art libraries around the country, and eventually settled on the system Brown had devised for his specialised collection.
“While the Dewey Decimal System, which is what the public library uses, is suitable for more general subjects, this library is really focused on art, art history, art philosophy and art practice. So if you’re using Dewey Decimal, it doesn’t really work for detailed subcategories like this collection.”
Katherine Claypole and Sarah Loveluck-Newland transferred the hard copy records Brown made to the Whanganui District Library’s database. There is a booklet outlining the system on the front desk in the reading room for readers to familiarise themselves with the various subject categories, as well as online access to the catalogue.
“There is a huge section on international and New Zealand photography, as well as early New Zealand art society exhibition booklets. Other topics include world art, architecture, philosophy, art history essays and lectures, art-related periodicals and a significant selection of artist monographs.”
The late Gordon Brown (1931-2025) was multi-talented and highly regarded for his contribution to New Zealand art history.
He was a painter and photographer whose works are held in private and public collections, including that of the Sarjeant Gallery. He graduated in Fine Arts from the Canterbury School of Art in 1956 then trained as a librarian, after which he held positions at the Alexander Turnbull Library, the Elam School of Fine Arts and became the first research librarian at Auckland Art Gallery.
Brown was director of the Waikato Art Gallery in 1970, then curator of pictures at the Hocken Library, leading to his term as director at the Sarjeant Gallery.
After leaving the Sarjeant, Brown had a successful career as a leading art historian, published author, art critic and reviewer of art. He was awarded the OBE in 1980 for services to art history.
Many of the books donated by him still contain his detailed notations and bookmarks, making this library even more special and well worth the visit.
What: Gordon H. Brown Reading Room, reference only
Where: Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, Pukenamu Queen’s Park
When: Every Friday and Saturday, 1-4pm
